7 travel tips to you get through the mad rush of the bank holiday weekend

The lengthy awaited jubilee financial institution vacation weekend is upon us and with it comes the prospect to get away for just a few days. Nevertheless, it’s important that motorists keep protected when getting away this financial institution vacation. The consultants at National Scrap Car  have put collectively just a few ideas to assist motorists get by means of the financial institution vacation rush safely.

1. Do the important checks earlier than setting off

Earlier than setting off on any lengthy journey motorists ought to at all times take the time to do the important checks on their autos, notably if that is their first lengthy journey since winter ended.

The important checks embrace:

If you’re not sure of your automotive’s really helpful tyre stress, seek the advice of your guide. Equally, make sure you high up your oil with the really helpful in your automobile to ensure higher engine efficiency.

2. Plan your route forward

It’s no secret that gas prices are extraordinarily excessive in the intervening time, which implies ensuring you may have the perfect route doable deliberate forward is crucial for gas consumption and for a neater journey.

However gas consumption shouldn’t be the one issue thought-about. Check out the completely different routes to your vacation spot and weigh up the choices primarily based in your necessities. For instance, in case you are somebody that requires common breaks, a route which may be longer however have extra service stations alongside it or alternatives to cease is the perfect route.

Examine your route the day earlier than leaving too to make sure there haven’t been any adjustments reminiscent of highway closures that may have an effect on your journey.

3. Keep away from peak journey occasions

As apparent because it sounds, avoiding peak occasions is one of the simplest ways to keep away from the financial institution vacation rush. This will imply sacrificing time in mattress and hitting the highway early or choosing a late night time drive the day earlier than your break.

You may get an concept of when a highway is normally busy through the use of Google Maps. Should you kind your vacation spot it’ll let you understand how lengthy the route usually takes and can present areas which might be normally extra congested throughout your estimated journey time by highlighting them in orange or pink.

Amy Josling, automotive and scrappage skilled at Nationwide Scrap Automobile, stated: “The financial institution vacation is infamous for inflicting congestion points for motorists, which is why planning forward is essential to getting by means of your drive there and again safely. Drivers ought to make sure that their route is deliberate previous to setting off and, if they’ll, keep away from hitting the highway throughout the peak travels occasions. On a weekday, reminiscent of Friday, these peak occasions are 6am-10am and 4pm-8pm. If you’re travelling on the Saturday nonetheless, early morning reminiscent of earlier than 8am or after 6pm is greatest. The much less site visitors on the roads the safer the journey.”

4. Cease for normal breaks

Lengthy journeys might be very tiring for motorists, having to be “on” for the entire journey to make sure the protection of these within the automotive takes its toll. This is the reason it is very important plan in common breaks alongside longer journeys.

Cease for food and drinks to ensure you are staying hydrated and fed to maintain you centered, and in case you are planning on leaving later at night time to keep away from the push, try to have a nap previous to setting off. Driving drained could be very harmful, notably in case you are planning a brief break someplace rural, as there are prone to be fewer avenue lights.

5. Hold the site visitors perform in your radio

Most autos have a site visitors perform on their leisure programs that may interrupt bluetooth music and such to present updates. On shorter and every single day journeys the interruptions might be irritating however it is very important maintain this on in your longer journeys.

Some automobiles may have map apps that may mechanically replace to accommodate for any delays or disruptions however having the perform on will assist you to be absolutely knowledgeable in your travels.

6. Have breakdown cowl

To keep away from being stranded whereas distant from residence, take out breakdown cowl.

Breakdown cowl is a kind of insurance coverage you’re taking out in case your automobile breaks down. This can be very helpful to have when embarking on longer journeys, in case you get a flat automotive battery or a punctured tyre or much more extreme faults for instance that trigger you to get caught, having breakdown cowl will imply that the fault is both mounted on the roadside or you can be recovered together with your automobile and brought someplace they’ll repair it or residence

You possibly can both buy breakdown cowl as a person coverage, or it may be provided as a part of your motor insurance coverage and even checking account. Examine what is on the market and evaluate, like journey insurance coverage, it’s higher to have it and never want it than to be with out.

7. Know your limits the night time earlier than driving residence

Financial institution holidays are synonymous with barbeques and having one too many drinks, nonetheless in case you are planning to drive you want to concentrate on your limits the night time earlier than/ day of driving residence.

It’s round three hours after every drink in case you drink one giant glass of wine (250ml/three models) or a higher-strength lager, beer or cider (5.2%) earlier than the alcohol leaves your system.

The utmost BAC (blood alcohol content material) restrict in England & Wales is:

• 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath; or

• 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or

• 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

The utmost BAC (blood alcohol content material) restrict in Scotland is:

• 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath; or

• 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or

• 67 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine

Being answerable for a automobile whereas above the authorized restrict is a critical offence and may end up in 3 months imprisonment, a advantageous of as much as £2,500 and in some instances, a life-long driving ban.